Character: Elena Weinberg and Mallory Larson

Get in on the Act

By KIMYA KAVEHKAR | Photo by SArah Frankie Linder

Published: June 29, 2015

Real-life and on-screen best friends Elena Weinberg (pictured, top) and Mallory Larson produce, write and star in #ATOWN, a Girls-meets-Broad City web series that chronicles the friendship between neurotic native Austinite and wannabe stand-up comic Layla (Weinberg) and free-spirited newcomer Melanie (Larson). With the first season receiving 15,000-plus views, this Friday Night Lights–obsessed, Lone Star–guzzling comedy duo could become the next binge-watching hit on the web. Check out the series before the second season premieres Sept. 5 on Vimeo.

How did the show get started?Larson: After our two-woman show at Frontera Fest 2013, we were on a high. I pitched to Elena the idea of doing a film about what happens to these characters five years later. Elena was like, “Let’s do a web series because then we can start filling in the blanks.”

How much are you like your on-screen counterparts? Weinberg: They’re outlandish but based on true traits of our friendship and ourselves. Layla is a bit more insecure than I am. I always need to be in control, and she isn’t always in control. She’s freeing for me—it’s a part of myself that I don’t let out all the time.

Larson: I love Melanie. She’s my hero; she says everything I wish I could say.

What do you like about producing a series for the web?Weinberg: It’s like the Wild West of filmmaking, where you can just make whatever you want and don’t have to abide by studio or network rules. You don’t need a foot in the door to put your stuff on the Internet.

What can we expect from season 2?Weinberg: Layla finally gets a love interest. She was kind of asexual in season 1.

Larson: We had a very serious conversation about Layla being gay, though.

Weinberg: We had to think about it. Melanie gets more responsible; Layla lets go a bit. We’ve rubbed off on each other.